Telescopic traveling-bag.



Patented Nov. 4, |902.

m. BuKuuTz. TELESCPHS TRAVELING BAG.

(Application led Apr. 11, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

MELVIN BUKOUTZ, QF LAMOILLE, ILLINOIS.

TELESCQPIC TRAVELING-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,762, dated November 4, 1902.

. Application filed April 11, 1902. Serial No. 102,463. (No model.)

persons to quickly, readily, and advanta geously display their goods or samples.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an effective lock for a telescopic traveling-bag in which the locking device engages lthe opposite ends or sides ofI the bag and enables the bag to belocked either when partially or wholly filled, the entire locking mechanism being contained with in the telescopic sections of the case, so that no part thereof is accessible -from the outside of the bag, so as to be damaged or tampered,v The bag is also well adapted to receive trays, which may be placed one upon the other and which are ac- With by unauthorized persons.

cessible as soon'as the outer section or cover is removed. The locking mechanism is also protected from the inside by suitable shields which prevent the goods contained in the bag from interfering with such mechanism, the

shields at the sametimeserving to brace and,

materially strengthen the bag or case;`

as hereinafter fully described, il1ustrated,and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure ll'isl a vertical longitudinal section through a traveling bag or case constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the case-sections lockedtogether at opposite ends. Fig. 2 1s a vertical cross-section same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

bag or case.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the outer section or cover lofthe traveling bag or case, and 2` the inner or telescopic section thereof, the outer section being adapted to snugly iit over and inclose the greater portion of the inner telescopic section, as clearly indicated 'in the drawings. The sections l and v2 may be of any size and may be of any preferred material, these items not being essential tothe present invention. The outer section is also provided with a suitable carrying strap or handle 3.

The locking mechanism is arranged entirely within the traveling-case and comprises, essentially, a pair of ratchet-tubes 4, preferably rectangular in'cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3, and extending lthe greater portion of the height of the inner; section 2, said tubes being provided with,oppositely-projecting attaching-ears 5, adapted to receive fastenings, such as rivets, by means of which the tubes .are secured to the inner surfaces of the ends or sides of the inner section 2. Each ratchettube is provided along the inner surface of ,its outer wall with a series of teeth or notches 6,*with which the shoulderedA head 7 of one :of a pair of catch-arms 8'is adapted to engage.' Two catch-arms 8 are employed, and they are pivotally connected at 9 to brackets llO, secured inside of the outer section l immediately adjacent to the top thereof, as

Vshown in Fig; 1, and about centrally of the `lends or sides of the case.l The arms 8 when the case is entirely closed, as shown in Fig. With the above and other objects in viewthe invention consists in the novel construc-V tion, combination, and arrangement of parts,

1, extend nearly all the Way' through the tubes 5 andare adapted to engage any of the teeth or notches 6, according to the extent to which the two parts of the case are telescoped. The arms'S are connected adjacent to their pivotal points by a spring-barll, having its ends permanently connected to the arms, and said spring-bar is attached about centrally to an operating device 12, lthe'head'of'which proand is' fastened to the central portion of the 'spring-bar 11, as shown i'n Fig. 1, so that by pulling upward on the operating device or button 12 the spring-bar is bent or bowed in 'an'upward direction sunciently to rock the ICO catch-arms S and move the shouldered heads 7 thereof laterally out of engagement with the teeth or notches 6,which enables the outer section l to be removed from the inner section 2 of the case. Each of the arms Sis provided with an elbow extension 14, forming a limiting-stop to prevent the arm from swinging outward too far, said stop being arranged to come in contact with a shoulder 15 on the adjacent bracket 10. The stops 14 maintain the catch-arms in proper position to enter the ratchet-tubes when the two parts of the case are separated. By pulling forward on the operating device 12 both catch-arms are simultaneously moved out of engagement with the teeth on the ratchet-tubes, and when the parts are locked the case-sections are positively secured at both ends or sides, as the case may be.

In order to provide for locking the case and preventing the same from being opened by unauthorized persons, the shank 13 of the operating device is provided with a shoulder or collar 16, which may consist of a washer arranged just above the spring-bar 11, said shoulder being adapted to be engaged by a bolt 17 of a lock 18, the case of which is secured to the lower side of the top of the section 1, so as to receive a key 19, insertible through a keyhole 2O in the top of the traveling-case. lVhen the bolt 17 is thrust outward, it engages the upper side of the shoulder, and thereby prevents the movement of the operating device, which is thus held locked until the bolt is withdrawn by operating the same with the key 19.

In order to prevent clothing or other material placed in the traveling case or bag from interfering with the locking mechanism at the top of the case, a plate or shield 2l is placed in the upper portion of the outer section of the case, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said shield being held at the proper distance from the top of the case bya series of spacing-posts 22. Where trays are to be inserted in the case, other shields 23 are arranged to cover the ratchet-tubes 4, said shields being in the form of plates having opposite anges 24, which bear against the ends or sides of the case and serve to hold the shoulders at the proper distance from the ends or sides ot` the case, as best indicated in Fig. 3. These anged shields also serve to materially strengthen and brace the traveling case or bag as a whole.

It will be observed that the spring-bar 1l is always bowed or sprung to an extent suflicient to exert a pressure in opposite directions against the catch-arms 8, which insures an engagement of the shouldered heads 7 with the teeth or notches 6 of the tubes 4. It is only when the spring-bar is bowed to a greater extent by lifting the operating device 12 that the catch-arms are disengagedfrom the ratchet-tubes, so that the outer case-section may be removed from the inner or telescopic section. It is the work of an instant to unlock and open the traveling bag or case and it will therefore be found ot' special value to commercial travelers and the like, as it will enable them to quickly display their goods or samples without the tedious process of unbuckling and loosening the usual binding-straps.

Itis obvious that the invention hereinabove described is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the sections 0f a telescopic traveling-case, of ratchetholding devices at opposite portions of the case, and a common operating device for simultane ously releasing both ratchet-holding devices.

2. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms at 0pposite portions of the case, and a common operating device for simultaneously acting upon both catch-arms.

3. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms arranged at opposite portions of the case, a spring-bar connected at opposite ends to the catch-arms, and means for flexing said springbar.

4. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms located at opposite portions of the case, a bowed spring-bar connected wit-h the arms and exerting an outward pressure thereon, and an operating device for exing the springbar and moving the catch-arms inward.

5. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of locking lnechani ism arranged wholly within the case and comi prising ratchet-tubes applied to opposite portions of the inner section of the case, catch` arms connected with the outer section of the case and insertible in the ratchet-tubes, and acommon operating device forsimultaneously moving the catch-arms ont of engagement with the ratchet-tubes.

6. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms arranged at opposite portions of the case and provided with limiting-stops, a spring-bar connecting said catch-arms for simultaneously operating them, and means for flexing the spring-bar.

7. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of fastening devices arranged at opposite portions of the case, a common operating device for simul-V taneously releasing the same, and means for locking the operating device and preventing movement thereof.

8. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms arranged at opposite portions of the case, a spring-bar connecting said arms, means for IOJ flexing the spring-bar, and a locking device for preventing the flexing of said bar.

9. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling case, of ratchet-tubes applied to opposite portions of the case upon the inside thereof, catch-arms insertible in said tubes, a common operating device for simultaneously releasing the catch-arms, and anged shields arranged at the inner sides of the ratchet-tubes, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination with the sections of a telescopic traveling-case, of catch-arms arranged at opposite portions of the case, a common operating device for simultaneously releasing the catch-arms, said operating device being arranged in the upper portion of the case, and a shield for the operating device provided With spacing-posts arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MELVIN BUKOUTZ. Witnesses: R. F. WooDs, L. J. KENDALL. 

